Free The Pirate Raiders by C.G. Mosley

safe enough to come out of hiding.  Once I was out, I stood and stretched my arms.  We had been bottled up a lot longer than we’d planned. 
    I peered over at Langley.  The lantern that hung overhead wasn’t very bright, but it provided just enough light for me to make him out.  He was seated on a water cask and massaging both knees. 
      “That’s something I’d rather not do ever again, Cap’n,” he said.
      “Me either.”  I turned to John.  “You handled those soldiers beautifully.”
      “Did I?” he asked wearily.  “I’m not so sure.  That young pup could’ve easily put a shot into one of you three and there would have been nothing I could’ve done to stop it.”
      “You did well,” Andrea assured him.  “We’re all here alive.  That’s the important thing.”  She leaned toward him and kissed him on the cheek.  “Thank you, John.”
    It was a shame that the light was so dim; I would’ve enjoyed seeing the old man’s face.  I could hear the delight in his voice.  He suddenly didn’t sound so weary anymore.
      “It was my pleasure, lass,” he replied.  “Oh! I almost forgot.”
    He pulled a cloth sack from a nearby crate and tossed it to Andrea. 
      “Seeing how you’re now a fugitive, it’s probably a good idea for you to change clothes,” he said.  “They’re men’s clothing and they may be a bit baggy, but they’ll do the job.”
    She took the bag and hugged John graciously.
      “Thank you again, kind sir,” she said.
    After the embrace, John let out a tired sigh.  He was looking more exhausted by the minute.
      “I’m afraid I must be going now,” he said wearily. “Good luck to the lot of you.”
    I reached for John and hugged him tightly.  He stuck his neck out for me yet again.  I told myself that this would surely be the last time.
      “Thank you, John.  You’ve never let me down.”
      “You know I’m always here for you, boy,” he replied.
    It was a tender moment, one of the few in my life.  He bid us all good luck, and then he was gone.

Chapter 5 :
    Oliver Langley wasted no time collapsing into the first hammock he happened upon in the crew’s quarters of the ship.  I’d already decided that the best place for both Gordon and Andrea would be in my quarters.  It was essential that Gordon recover from his injury as soon as possible and it seemed to me that the best place for him would be on a soft bed.  As it happened, the only soft bed found on the ship was in the captain’s quarters.
    I threw Gordon upon my shoulder and quickly made my way across the deck with Andrea on my heels.  I barged through the door of the captain’s quarters and casually dropped Gordon’s limp body into bed.  It was very dark, but there was no need to light a lantern.  I found Andrea a cot and minutes after she lay down, I could hear the heavy, rhythmic breathing of her sleeping.  I stood there a moment with my hands upon my sides and reflected on the events of the day. 
    It was truly miraculous that I was still alive! 
    I thought of the sloop I now found myself in.  I knew very little about her and had not even seen how she looked from the outside.  I would have to get acquainted with the ship very quickly in the morning if I was going to be able to set sail by early afternoon.
    Exhaustion weighed heavily on my eyelids and I considered options for my own sleeping arrangement.  Tired as I was, I simply grabbed a wooden chair from a nearby table, sat down, and leaned it carefully back against the wall.  I lowered the tricorn hat down over my eyes and finally drifted off to sleep.
    The next morning I was awakened suddenly by the moaning and groaning of Gordon Littleton.  The sound startled me, and I came very close to tipping my chair over.  Gordon was still lying in the bed, but he was massaging his temples.
    I took the groaning and the movement as a good sign. 
      “As soon as I get a little rum and porridge in you, you’ll be good